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E 2 E E i i & £ > i 4] PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, January 6, 1987 -- 5 'by John B. . McClelland | Viewpoint LOOKING BACK . I have a few nice memories from the year just gone y. : Unfortunately for people who work in the media, some of the more memorable events of the past year are not nice. That's a hazard of the trade, I guess. But thinking back over 1986 in Scugog Township, | must say that there were a lot of NICE things that hap- pened and I'm going to take this column space to share a few of them with you. Generally speaking, the nicest thing that comes to my mind is the commynity itself. Scugog has so much going for it: natural beauty, * the lake, the fields and farms, the interesting mix of old - and new architecture, even the hustle and bustle of busy Queen Street on a Friday afternoon. There is a dynamic 'vibrancy to this community of Scugog which I enjoy. And what makes it so are the people. I have lived in many different places, but I can't think of any place where I have et so many genuinely nice people. Oh, sure there are a few genuine SOB's around too, but in my travels, I have to say that by far and away there are in a distinct minority. The people make this community what it is today and I hope this aspect of life in Scugog never changes. More specifically, some of the NICE memories that come to mind from 1986 include the following: : The Festival Days Weekend. Remember how Queen Street was decked out like an island in the West Indies? The storefronts, people dressed in bright coloured clothing, the exotic food and drinks served in local restaurants for the occasion-and a lot of people just hav- Another nice memory eame later in the summer when | went out to interview the one and only Bill Lishman, a guy with so many talents and ideas. Bill created Autohenge in a farmers field south of . Port Perry, duplicating the famous Stonehenge by us- ing wrecked autos instead of the limestone slabs.. Bill's Autohenge was used by a car company for TV commercials which aired many times.in the fall. Sitting there amid the wrecked cars talking to Bill on a warm late summer day was a fascinating and in- teresting experience, Or how about that weekend in the middle of September when the fastball diamond at the Port Perry "waterfront was jammed with people for the all-Ontario playdowns. - And who should come away with the championship? The Greenbank Gamblers. There was some fantastic softball played that weekend. The fact the local Gamblers won it was icing on the cake. Anyone who witnessed that final game won't forget it quickly. At least I won't. That was a good memory. Still with sports, I won't forget the pandemonium in the dressing room last spring after Port Perry Ban- tams repeated as all-Ontario hockey champs. Those _kids were so elated, one would think they had just won a Stanley Cup. But why shouldn't they be so elated? They earned it. -- - - Remember the Phantom? He/she made numerous cryptic appearances around Port Perry last summer, leaving a white rock with the words "The Phantom' in black lettering as a calling card. I recall stepping out my front door early one morning and there on the porch . was the rock. I'still have it. The Phantom then seemed at Christmas and sent me a very nice card. Thanks, whoever you are. Another pleasant memory for me in 1986 was that I did NOT take part in the annual milking contest at Blackstock Fair. Joy Werry, who works: for the Star part-time represented us very well. Over the years in this contest, I have found myself trying to squeeze milk from an assortment of animals including a goat, a pig, and of course a dairy cow. It is great fun, I must admit. The crowd gets a kick out of watching the hapless contestants, and I didn't miss it too much in '86. But I'll be there in '87 to give it another shot. Just before Christmas, I had the pleasure of help- "ing judge the Star's first ever Christmas Lights com- petition. Myself and fellow judges Diane Lackie and Chester Pedzikowski spent nearly four hours looking at some 35 homes decorated with lights for the festive - season. They were all beautiful and I'm sorry there could not have been-35 winners. 1 was amazed at the amount of creativity and sheer hard work that went in- to the light tlisplays. It helped put me in the Christmas spirit. One cold, grey Sunday afternoon i in October, I pass- ed an hour chatting with a fisherman in Birdseye Park. He looked to be in his 60's, said he: owned a small business in Toronto, worked six days a week, but every | Sunday, he' 'd drive alone to Port Perry and spend the day fishing. He didn't catch very much; other than u few perch and small bass, but said he just enjoyed the relative peace and quiet in the park. He had nothing but - good to say about the town and strongly hinted he.wonld - like to retire here, and escape the city rat race once. and _ (Turn to page 8). ing a darn good time. It was fun, a good memory for me. © to go into hiding for a few months, but he/she surfaced Yesterday' S 'Memories 70 YEARS AGO Wed., January 3, 1917 The new Parish House in connection with the English Church was formally dedicated on Friday evening last by Bishop Sweeney. * The ceremony consisted of a religious service followed by an adghess from the Bishop and Rev. Mr. Muirhead. On New Year's eve the Township held their elections, results were Reeve - Mr. John Stone, Deputy Reeve - Mr. Allan Goode, Coun- cillors - Messrs. Wm. McDonald, John Johnson and W.J. Cook. 15 YEARS AGO Thurs., January 1, 1942 Dr. C.P. and Mrs. Peterson and family have moved to Toronto. Mr. Norman McCrea, Prince Albert, who recently returned from a cruise.on a Greek ship (as Wireless Operator) has taken a posi- tion with the Civil Service in Ottawa. 'Mr. Bruce Beare, who has joined the R.C.A.F. was presented with a gold ring at a recent meeting of the United Church Young Peo- ple's Society. Mrs. M. Munro of Prospect, motored to Geneva, N.Y. to spend - the holidays with her sister Mrs. Fisher: 30 YEARS AGO | Thurs., January 3, 1957 The Teen Town New Year's dance held in the Port Perry Public School was well attended. 65 teenagers and six-adults enjoyed a very delightful evening. During the past seven or eight months the village of Port Perry B 1 has been making test drillings to locate a new and sufficient water supply. The best sights found were on the Oshawa road south of Port Perry. A 72 hour test was made which showed there would be ample supply for the village. 20 YEARS AGO Thurs., January 5, 1967 The first baby born at Port Perry Community Hospital in Canada's Centennial year baby son of Mr. and Mrs. Neil K. Berry of Cresswell, Ontario. Local firemen collected $116.38 'for the Canadian Muscular Dystrophy Association. Two armed men are still at large following a robbery of $240.00 at the Blackwater General Store between Christmas and New Years. Mr. Ray Litt was one of 500 delegates attending the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation Convention held at the Royal "York Hotel, Toronto. Mr. Richard Carnegie left on Tuesday by plane for Lethridge, Alberta, where he will attend a cours rsepn store management for Wood Alexander. 4 10 YEARS AGO Wednesday, January 5, 1977 New councillors Don Crosier, Richard Drew. and Neil: McLaughlin took their caths of office at the innaugural meeting of council, as did Mayor Lawrence Malcolm and councillors Reg Rose, Vern Asselstine and Jerry Taylor. / The newly named Durham Region Family YMCA is presently ex- panding to the Port Perry area. After two years in the planning and construction dogs. the new Scugog Arena opened its doors to the public, with a zal surplus - from its $750,000 budget. } $ etters 1 3 _ eo "To The Editor: ° As with any sport that deals with the public, there are always those "idiots"" "who would ruin it for others. As an avid snowmobiler and 'member of the Port Perry Snowmobile Club I try to obey all the rules of the trail but it upsets me immensely to see others endanger what my club has worked so hard to attain. I realize that so far this winter the snowmobiler's en- thusiasm has only been teased by" the poor snow conditions but an overzealous driver does not have the right to tresspass where the snowmobile trail does NOT go. It's time the snowmobilers learned their responsibilities! A hunter must first have written permission from a lan- downer before he can cross his field 'and the same holds true for the Truckers are necessary To The Editor: So Mrs. Olliffe would like to see - Port Perry become a ghost town. She also knows how to spoil holidays. I have been delivering freight for one of the carriers named in your - childish column for 36 years. I figure in the Port Perry area alone, I have delivered well over five hundred tons of freight including the pipeline pipe, and I must not forget to the Port Perry Star. I am also well known both as a delivery man and a shopper and was a Star reader, and now as a reward I am an Incon- siderate Jerk, a Bonehead, and Scum. Over the years I have delivered in Lindsay, Peterboro and most all towns between and including Toron- to and Brockville (sometimes dou- ble parking) without being harass- ed, except for some Friday night drunks who broke every rule in the book to get by me and then sudden- ly slammed on their brakes. I managed to stop only inches away "After having their taughs they drove snowmobiler. He must have written permission or a trail permit before he travels on ariy private land. And nearly ALL the trails in the Port Perry area are over private proper- ty. The local clubs have worked "hard to obtain the landowner's per- mission to travel on the TRAILS -ONLY'! Only this past weekend there were 2 instances that I know of where the relationship between the landowner and snowmobiler were sorely tried. The first instance was when some 'persons' (I hate to use the term snowimohiler) decided to race all over a farmer's planted wheat field. And these guys had the nerve to question the farmer when con- fronted with their actions! Bravo! though for the men in blue! The local police were called and charges of tresspass were laid. Thank on (probably looking for another transport) leaving me stalled at 2 a.m. 2 miles west of Belleville on Highway No. 2 (there was no 401 in those days). Boy, wouldnt your newspaper like to get hold of this story had I hit them Headlines - In- considerate Jerk rams car, - Bonehead truck driver charged. (Turn to page 6) Snowmobilers responsibilities - goodness this landowner rea'izes that all snowmobilers are not this careless. * The other case was when | notic- ed a fellow hundreds of yards away from the groomed and marked trail . raised. He appeared to be having problems and when | went to in- vestigate I found that he had driven thru an électric fence used to con- tain cattle. He had torn out many of the supporting rods and had the wire wrapped into cricles. I'm most ashamed to say he was more con- cerned for himself and his slightly damaged machine, than he was for -the damage he had inflicted on the farmer's belongings! Please! to any ~ snowmobiler reading this! Your trails are there only thru the good- - will of the landowners and the hard working efforts of your local club! Respect the rights of others! Join a club, purchase-a trail per- mit and help to keep snowmobiling the terrific sport it is! If we have too "many of the snowmobijlers of the kind I've mentioned here we'll soon find all the trails closed and the on- ly place left to ride your machine will be. up and down the lake- travelling to nowhere. Gwen Luke, A Snowmobiler, Scugog Township. 4 Letters to the Edlior . our policy It has- always been the policy of this newspaper to encourage our' _readers'to make use of the letters to the editor column. Our readers have a right to freely express théir opinions and view- points on just about any subject, and we feel that a lively letters column - helps make a better community newspaper. We insist, however, that a letter writer sign his or her» name. On rare occasions, we will agree to with-hold publication of a letter writer's name, if we feel there are very good reasons to do so. Under no circumstances will this paper print an anonymous letter to the editor. ~* While we enjoy receiving letters from our readers, we must continue to insist on knowing the identity of the writer. - as - "with the hood of pis snowmobile 3